Meet the candidates, part one
Published: October 23, 2007
One of its candidates is an attorney, two are entrepreneurs, one is a former supervisor, there's a stay-at-home mom in the mix and an administrative assistant that rounds out the bunch.
The group comprises of only one incumbent as three chose not to seek re-election for the Nov. 6 election.
And two races are uncontested.
These six hopefuls are running for Culpeper County School Board.
About 40 spectators watched Tom Seay moderate the School Board public forum sponsored by the Jefferson and Lignum Ruritan Clubs inside the Culpeper County High School auditorium.
A four-member panel read the same 15 questions to the six candidates that were submitted by the public in advance.
In addition to political forums, Seay also hosts "Best of America by Horseback," a national cable television series, which features an array of horseback riding locations.
The candidates began with a two-minute opening and ended with a two-minute closing.
During the forum, they had one minute to answer questions.
"I am not endorsing any candidate, or any party," Seay said, before the forum. "This is an opportunity for you to express your views, ask questions, make judgments and evaluate the candidates for yourself."
"When you really think about it, this is the grassroots of true democracy," he added.
The main issue among the candidates was funding the opening of two new schools.
The $53 million Eastern View High School is under construction near the intersection of Route 666 and U.S. 29. The $15 million Yowell Elementary School is on Yowell Drive off of Sperryville Pike. Both schools open next fall.
Anne Luckinbill
The 37-year-old Culpeper County stay-at-home mother of four used her opening comments to express that she wants to work on improving communication with the governing bodies.
"Those need to be working, amicably productive relationships," said Anne Luckinbill, who is running for school board in the Salem district. "And I'm here to do it."
As far as the budget, Luckinbill said that's going to be a tough issue to balance.
"I don't think anyone in this room thinks that we're going to get everything that we asked for," she said. "So we need to be willing to make cuts and that's not an easy thing to do."
Luckinbill says the board needs to look at how it creates and presents the operating budget.
"I think there's some work that needs to be done in that area," Lukinbill added.
Salem's incumbent Jennifer McCauley decided not to seek re-election earlier this year.
Chris Willis
Culpeper businesswoman, Chris Willis owns and operates Diversified Estimating Inc. and says her knowledge in commerce and education experience are best suited for representing the Salem District School Board seat.
The 55-year-old mother of two says the main issue that the School Board faces is the budget.
"I feel that the schools face serious issues with budget constraints and this is a difficult economy and some difficult decisions are going to be made," Willis said, during her opening statements. "With my business background and having dealt with a recession before, I think that I have that experience."
Willis says the budget plays a major role in the entire school system.
"That's something that affects not just the schools but retirees on a fixed income," she said. "It also affects recruitment and retention of teachers."
"It's going to affect the personnel that you have to implement your SOLs and your No Child Left Behind Act," she continued. "It's going to affect those bus drivers that you need to do those routes that you have."
Earlier this year, Salem's Jennifer McCauley decided not to seek re-election.
Kym Majors
The 39-year-old creator/ executive director of the Culpeper Blue Angels, an all-star cheer/dance program, is running for the Catalpa District seat.
Kym Majors began her comments by expressing that she's seeking the position to make a difference for the kids.
"That is my sole purpose, always has been always will be," she said.
Majors said the key issue concerning education is "instilling that each and every one of our kids are getting the education completely."
"You can't just focus on SOLs, you have to make sure that those kids are able to read, to write," she said.
In June, Catalpa District's Bobby Jenkins chose not to seek re-election for school board.
Rusty Jenkins
The 48-year-old administrative assistant to the Culpeper Town Police chief opened with his experience working with budgets.
"I order equipment, supplies, uniforms and anything that comes out of the budget or goes into the budget comes across my desk," Jenkins said. "It's a very interesting job.
"My number one priority is definitely the teachers, staff and kids and of course the taxpayers," said Jenkins. "I'm a taxpayer myself and this year is going to be tough for all of us."
Jenkins is seeking the Catalpa district seat for school board.
He says he's "very interested in the school system."
"We are going through a very tight budget season," said Jenkins. "I'm not looking forward to that. I was hoping to have a little bit more money than what I've heard the school system might end up getting."
Jenkins said education and public safety are the two most important priorities that the School Board faces when dealing with the operating budget.
"With this year being strapped as it is, this is a difficult year for everybody. We've got to make wise choices."
In June, Catalpa District's Bobby Jenkins (no relation) decided not to seek re-election for School Board.
Robert Beard
Culpeper County School Board's sole incumbent Bob Beard, of East Fairfax, says as he finishes his first term, he's determined to complete what he set out to accomplish.
"I may never do it, but I think another term may help me get closer to it," he said.
The 55-year-old practices law for Culpeper Human Services. Beard, who is running unopposed, has served on the board for the last four years.
When it comes to prioritizing the money in the operating budget, Beard said that's one of the most difficult tasks that the School Board has to tackle.
"Candidly, I think we have not always done a good job in setting those priorities," Beard said. "But I think we are beginning now to focus and look at the budgets as we develop (them)."
Jimmy Lee
Culpeper County insurance agent Jimmy Lee owns and manages General Insurance Agency of Culpeper.
The 52-year-old businessman served eight years as a Culpeper County Supervisor and is running unopposed for the West Fairfax School Board seat.
"My experience with the board of supervisors, I believe, will be an asset for the School Board for fostering a relationship farther than what they are because I understand what they have to go through and I can also now give them what the School Board has to go through so that they can make the better decision," he said.
Lee said his constituents want the School Board to get in control of its budget.
"The challenge is more than getting control of the budget and expenditures, it's how we implement services so that our students can get a first rate education," Lee said. "To me that's going to be the toughest task as a school board."
In February, West Fairfax incumbent Claudia Vento announced that she was not seeking another term, which ends Dec. 31.
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